Watch NASA's New Fire Shelter Withstand a Ferocious Blaze

NASA is testing new materials that take advantage of the organization's smarts in high-temperature materials to help firefighters survive intense blazes in emergency situations, such as the deadly Yarnell fire of 2013. The shelters must be able to survive both the flames themselves and the hot atmosphere around a blaze.

A variety of shelters were tested of varying thickness and materials, including some used for re-entry vehicles. While the agency didn't elaborate further on its testing this summer, it indicated that the experiments found some potential avenues for further research.

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You ca see the result of one such test below. Someday, firefighters in the midst of an intense blaze may have NASA to thank for their lives.